Torque wrench care/calibration

[Black02Silverado]

Hey, just was wondering what everyone does to care for their torque wrenches and how often and where do you get it's calibration checked?

 

I have a Craftsman lbft torque wrench that I have had calibrated once in ten years I have owned it. I mainly use it to torque lug nuts when I rotate my tires. I have used it for the head bolt torque on my jetta when I replaced the head on it.

 

Unless it is dropped or I used it more I don't see a need to have it done any more. I know in the Air Force ours were done every 180 days but they were used every day and most cases they got bumped or dropped often.

 

I used Team Torque in the past. Good prices for what they did at least from what I can find. Nothing close to me does calibrations far short of finding a SnapOn, MacTools van around.

 

I did a search on here thinking this was asked already but didn't find anything.

[HEMICAT]

I usually break mine every couple of years so I just wait 'till one goes on sale and keep 2 in my shop.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

I usually break mine every couple of years so I just wait 'till one goes on sale and keep 2 in my shop.

 

 

Buy a Snap-On, IF you somehow manage to break it, they will give you a new one.

[Prokopchuk_9]

I'm not rich enough to buy Mac or snap on. I have some, but not very much. I buy mastercraft maximum, lifetime warranty at Canadian tire.

 

That being said my 3/8" torque wrench stopped clicking the other day actually, torquing drive shaft yolk straps. Went in to crappy tire they just handed me a brand new one no questions. Plus the woman doesn't know it, she thinks it costs money when I break tools so I go in buy something new. I got myself a new set of ratcheting flex heads!!! Hehehe

[AzDragonLord]

Don't forget the top and bottom 10% of any torque-wrench's range is usually not accurate...too close to it's limits, Also if it is the twist-type, remember to "unload" the spring when done to hold it's calibration longer.

[brantjs]

I've had 3 different brands of torque wenches. Right now I have 2 gear wrench brand and 1 craftsman. All are different ranges. I went through 2 Husky brand wrenches before I gave up on them. The first had the ratcheting mechanism give out. That part is under warranty so they gave me a new one. The next one had something fail in the torque mechanism and stripped a suspension bolt on my car due to not clicking over. Since the torque sensitivity isn't under warranty I through it away and replaced it with a gear wrench and haven't had any problems since.

 

My feeling on calibration is that unless the wrench outright fails it will be close enough. In most cases the torque spec is plus or minus some amount. If I put the setting in the middle I am really just verifying that all bolts on a given part are torqued equally, which is in most cases more important than the value itself.